Student Models for Essay #2

The California Sea Lion

Observations from the National Zoo in Washington. D. C.

by Jim Buecheler

ENG302:N14
2/27/03

The weather was almost perfect, and if not for the sights and sounds of the city,
I'd have thought I was in California again. Bright sunshine, clear skies, and temperatures
hovering around the low 70's welcomed me as I emerged from the Adams-Morgan metro
and made my way up Connecticut Ave towards the Smithsonian National Zoological
Park in northwest Washington DC. It had been a couple of years since I had visited the
National Zoo and this was the first time I ventured there with a specific purpose -- to
observe the California Sea Lion.

As a child growing up in southern California, it was not uncommon to see large
aggregations of sea lions, lounging amongst the rocks and surf of Palos Verdes, far
removed from the crowds ofsurfers, swimmers, and sun worshippers that populate vast
stretches of the California coastline. These coastal mammals, known as Zahphus
californianus, are locally abundant along the coasts of California and Baja California, but
can be found as far south as Mazatlan along the western coast of Mexico, and as far north
as the coasts of British Columbia. As I approached the sea lion exhibit at the zoo, I took
note of the site construction which was built relatively similar to the rocky shorelines of
California where sea lions congregate.

A large pool runs north to south along the western edge of the mock coastline
with a smaller wading pool located in the center that is accessed from the north end of the
pool. The pool widens into two slightly circular regions at both the northern and southern
ends of the pool. Located in the center of these regions is a rocky protrusion upon which
the sea lions may sit and swim around. It is here, at the northern end of the pool that I
caught my first glimpse of Maureen swimming playfully around the center rock.

Maureen, one of two sea lions kept at the National Zoo was bom in the wild in
May 1977 and was acquired along with Norman, her male counterpart, from Marineland
in 1978. Although it was somewhat uncomfortable, I settled down along the northern end
of the exhibit where the zoo has constructed a small amphitheater for special events and
demonstrations. Aside from the occasional passerby and screeching child, all was quiet
on this weekday afternoon except for the subdued splashing and breathing sounds coming
from Maureen.

According to the National Zoo's website, Maureen weighs approximately 200
pounds whereas Norman weighs in at a hefty 600 pounds. Upon my arrival, Norman was
nowhere to be seen, although I would eventually get an opportunity to observe him late in
the afternoon. Hence, I spent the majority of the afternoon watching Maureen.

It became obvious relatively quick that it would be difficult to reach any
significant conclusions about true sea lion behavior as Maureen was alone, unlike in the
wild where she would likely be found amongst an entire gathering of other females, pups,
and large, male, territorial bulls, such as Norman. However, I was able to make good
observations of her appearance and swimming style.

Light gray, Maureen looked like a torpedo as she streaked through the water. In
the wild, sea lions are skillful "body surfers," gliding down the front of the waves either
partially submerged or with their head just above the water, to come ashore. Obviously
there were no waves at the zoo for the sea lions to surf on, but I became aware that
Maureen did seem to be doing her best to simulate this ability.

For the most part, Maureen remained in the northern end of the pool, nearest my location, only venturing to the southern end every five to eight minutes, and only then for
no more than a minute. This puzzled me for some time as I couldn't distinguish any
difference between either location until I began taking notice of the apparent water
currents that flowed in the pool. The water at the northern end seemed far more vigorous
than the southern end,thanks to a series of pipes that jutted out along the edges of the
pool, a short distance below the surface. Much like a backyard swimming pool, I began
hypothesizing that this exhibit was not so dissimilar in that water was probably circulated
and filtered back into the pool via these pipes. As a result, the water in the northern end
swirled vigorously around the center rock and shoreline.

Over time, swimming patterns began to emerge that seemed to take advantage of
these currents. Maureen, with her head above water would swim against the current
along the shoreline, adjacent to the shallow wading pool, before turning and diving,
streaking sleekly across the northern end of the pool with the current. At other times,
when Maureen needed a boost, she used downward strokes of her forward flippers to
increase her propulsion. Her hindflippers appeared to function similarly to that of a
rudder during which she would extend her foreflippers as she banked through her turns.
Although her habitat at the zoo is far removed from the coasts of California, the sea lion
is clearly a fast and adept swimmer.

On land however, the sea lion doesn't appear nearly as graceful, although they are
still deceivingly quick over short distances. As late afternoon approached, I had the
opportunity to witness the zoo staff switch sea lions and observe Norman. The entire
process took but a few minutes, and as 4:30 pm approached, Maureen seemed to be aware
that something was about to happen. Located a short distance beyond the shoreline, and
up a small hill is a semi-hidden staff area where the animals are kept while not on
display. Maureen seemed very aware that a switch was about to occur, and as soon as
she heard the distinct sound of a chain link fence rattling, she was immediately out of the
water where she shuffled up the shoreline to the staff area.

Within moments, Norman was seen bounding down the rocks, and with a
tremendous splash, all 600 pounds of this dark coated sea lion dove into the water. It was
the only time during the entire afternoon that I had a chance to witness the sea lions'
terrestrial movement. The primary mode of locomotion was driven by the foreflippers
that were used alternately with the aid of the hind flipper to move forward. The result
was a combination of lateral and forward movement with the body and limbs barely
clearing the ground. Unfortunately, the entire sequence happened so fast with both
Maureen and Norman, their heads swinging from side to side with each lunging step, that
it was difficult to ascertain the precise motor movements of either one.

Following behind Norman after a few moments was a staff member, carrying a
bucket full of dead squid, who sauntered down to the waters edge where an eager and
excited Norman watched and waited with mouth open wide; it was obviously feeding
time. Amused by this, I couldn't help but think to myself that his behavior was uncannily
similar to that of a domesticated dog.

Almost as though the staff member was reading my mind, she demonstrated that,
in fact, these sea lions were domesticated and well trained. At the flick of some unseen
hand signal, Norman swam to the southern end of the pool and perched himself upon the
center rock. Another snap of the fingers and Norman dove gracefully into the water and
swam to the north end, performing three sleek porpoise jumps along the way before
leaping from the water and perching himself on the center rock. Norman seemed quite
pleased with his performance and was rewarded with a meal of fresh squid.

As the hour had grown late and the sun began to set, casting the viewing area into
the cool shade of the early evening, I bade farewell to Norman who had established
position in the shallow pool where he appeared quite content. As I crammed my way
onto a crowded rush hour metro train, I realized that what I had witnessed was merely a
small glimpse of the natural behavior of the California sea and that true understanding of
them and their relationship with each other could only be ascertained from observations
in their natural habitat. However, what could be determined were their unique, physical
adaptations that allowed them to successfully survive in their native coastal environment.
While domesticated to the point that Norman performed tricks for his meal, the
deceivingly fast and sleek mobility of a 600-pound sea lion in the water demonstrated
their obvious advantage for capturing prey. Certainly, the zoo is not a replacement for
observations of sea lions made in the field, but with a little bit of time and patience,
Maureen and Norman have a lot to teach us.

Works Consulted

Peterson, Richard S., and George A. Bartholomew. The Natural History and Behavior
of the California Sea Lion. Los Angeles: The American Society of Mammalogists, 1967.